Four California Members of Congress Switch Votes After Voting Time Ends to Kill LGBTQ Rights Legislation

Earlier today, four California representatives in Congress -- Rep. Jeff Denham, Rep. Mimi Walters, Rep. Darrell Issa and Rep. David Valadao -- switched their votes at the last minute, effectively killing an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would have prevented government contractors from citing religious liberty as grounds for firing or harassing LGBT employees.

When the voting clock ran out, the amendment had enough votes to pass with 217 supporting and 206 opposing; but, the Republican leader in the Speaker’s chair held the vote open a few more minutes, and several GOP lawmakers switched their votes, leading to the amendment’s defeat, 212-213. Reps. Denham, Walters, Issa and Valadao all switched their vote during these final minutes.

In reaction to the news, Eddie Kurtz, the executive director of the California-based Courage Campaign issued the following statement, condemning their votes as betraying LGBT rights and California values:

“Representatives Denham, Walters, Issa and Valadao should be deeply ashamed for lacking the courage to stand up to GOP leaders in the House and switching their vote after the clock ran out to deny LGBTQ people critical employment protections.

“This betrayal of the LGBTQ community makes it clear that Denham, Walters, Issa and Valadao are more interested in satisfying Republican Party bosses than standing up for the rights that Californians strongly support.